Major conflict with the community and environmental groups now appears imminent as two state government departments appear to be at odds over the future of remote and magnificent Sceale Bay on the West Coast of South Australia, with a pristine natural resource at risk, according to the National Convener of the Friends of Sceale Bay, Grant Hobson. The CSIRO's foremost marine expert Dr. Shaughnessy has previously called for the area to be made a protected marine  park.
 
Mr. Hobson has called on Primary Industries Minister Paul Holloway to reign in elements at PIRSA Aquaculture that are pushing plans that will have serious environmental impacts.

"Residents are worried about what is going on and the heavy handed approach of PIRSA," said Mr. Hobson. "This area is an environmental and tourist area not a feedlot for fattening fish."

Residents are also upset that Primary Industries South Australia  is expending public funds supporting a proposal to develop a  finfish farm adjacent to a major breeding colony of Australian Sea Lions  - a proposal that has been called unwise by CSIRO Scientific Experts. PIRSA Aquaculture appears to be an active advocate for the proposal, rather assessing the proposal independently.
 
In a letter to FOSB this week Minister  Paul Holloway indicated  that Aquaculture SA are actively supporting the proposal.

The Minister made written reference to Sceale Bay saying:
" ......concerns have been raised about the development of a fish farm in this region.  The issue has triggered the federal Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBS Act) over concerns related to whales, great white sharks and sea lions.  PIRSA Aquaculture has spent considerable time addressing these issues and is satisfied that the concerns can be addressed through appropriate operating standards. The Environmental Protection Authority will have input into the assessment process when draft aquaculture licence conditions have been identified."

According to Friends of Sceale Bay National Convenor Grant Hobson PIRSA Aquaculture has either  failed  to grasp or chosen to ignore  the simple fact that the only scientifically proven  method of managing fish farms and pinnipeds is to place a sensible distance between the two entities - everything else is a secondary means of damage control which impacts
negatively on both marine animals and fish farms.  "Overzealous pursuit of marine aqauculture farms everywhere throughout the state is damaging the credibility of the aquaculture industry and such a bloody minded approach must stop.  This is 3.5km from Australia's 5th largest Sea Lion breeding colony," said Mr.Hobson

Dr Peter Shaughnessy CSIRO's Australian seal expert has called  this specific proposal  "unwise" (1.) given the 3.5km's distance between the animals' home/nursery and the proposed farm.  

"Given that the Tasmanian government as a last resort has  approved shooting of  seals that attack fish farms (The closest fish farm in Tasmania to a seal colony is  19km's),  Minister Holloway has an opportunity to act in a responsible manner  and support the need to preserve this area in a MPA process rather than to introduce an irresponsible industrial element to it that will ultimately cruelly damage this intact  resource immeasurably," said Grant Hobson. 

"Regardless of the spin PIRSA Aquaculture puts on this proposal,  the science is clear that fish farms and pinnipeds do not co-exist in a favourable manner at close quarters. Animals become habitualised and will try anything to attack fish stocks.   Farmers  can now shoot seals  in Australia - with science and industrial history & common sense not favouring the development of this fish farm at Sceale Bay adjacent to a breeding colony of vulnerable animals - it would be "wise"  for  Minister Holloway  to get PIRSA Aquaculture to take their  foot off the aquaculture gas pedal in this instance.  Otherwise in the future the local people  & tourists at Sceale Bay may have their peaceful existence interrupted by gunshots echoing across the Bay," said Mr.Hobson.
Thanks to Tony Flaherty of the MCCN for this news release.